The scars from Bahrain’s protests are still felt on the pitch

Dear Economist,

The politically motivated and racist commentary of this article is a joke and quite appalling:

"A’ala and Mohammed Hubail, two Shia brothers who had starred in the national team, joined a march by hundreds of athletes calling for political change. Meanwhile, two Sunni Al-Ahli players joined the pro-government gangs that roamed the streets wielding clubs and pickaxe handles."

Seriously? Sunnis are the violent street gangs while Shias are marching peacefully? How more biased and blind can you get? It is blatantly unprofessional journalism to use such a degrading tone.

Just so you know, there were Shia gangs that killed policeman and burnt down homes, but of-course you are too biased and racist to point that out.

Actions have reactions.

Consequences will occur especially if those actions don't bring about the desired effect.

I can respect decisions to join the protestors, but I cannot feel sorry for what happened after. They knew the consequences of failure and if they did not, all the more reason to not pay heed.

Living in Bahrain as an expat I can tell you they have many issues as many countries do. No matter how they try and defend the ruling family the bottom line is they don't want to lose the power or the money. Lets call a spade a spade. If the truth is politically motivated and racist then I guess it is. I'll wait until I'm living outside the country to tell you how it really is out of fear for me and my family of that late night beat down of the door and subsequent hauling off to jail for beatings and possible rapes which they are so well know for threatening and doing. Both side have committed unspeakable crimes against each other but those seeking to stay in power with the help of Saudi, Pakistan and other troops have committed by far the worse.

How can a respectable & reputable journal like The Economist publish such a poorly written & blatently biased article that doesn't have a shred of truth! As a result I am cancelling my subscription & will encourage my family/friends/colleagues to do the same.

This article is adding fuel to the fire that never used to exist in our peaceful island. Sect has never been a factor in any of our clubs let alone the National Team -and no our clubs are not privatized they are owned & funded by the Goverment & are managed by an elected Board .

Mohd Hubail was sentenced to prison time because he was in the army & participated in an anti-govt march which is prohibited by law (as was Alaa his brother who worked for the Ministry of Interior)

This article is an insult

The wording used in this article is a joke to professionalism. The shia riots are called protests for democratic reforms and the rallies of people supporting the government and against the riots are called "sunni gangs"?

The protests included burning police cars and damaging properties and the brutal killing of policemen by running them over time and time again. They did not call for democratic reforms they called for overthrowing the government.

If athletes were to participate in the London riots will you defend them as you do for Bahrain's protesters?

Furthermore, calling Bahraini clubs sunni or shia is a mistake. I am a bahraini and an avid sports fan and the so-called sunni club that you mentioned won the league this year have both sunni and shia players, just like most clubs in Bahrain. But I guess it just makes for a better story to mention that the club that had most of its player participate in the riots just did not win the league this year and you have the audacity to try get readers to sympathize with these vandals.

Politics has no place in sport. Players should not participate in political protest riots.

National team players who played for their country and represented their nation one day, were seen calling for its downfall the next day. This is disgusting. This article is disgusting.

All clubs were affected not only Al Ahli and all sportsmen and women were affected as well. Again, politics and political agendas should have no place in sport.

For an established company like the Economist to publish such a flimsy article is a shame.

Let me ask a question from readers living in Bahrain. Is the following quote from an Economist article (A Gulf monarchy’s experiment in controlled democracy is looking shaky. Oct 14th 2010) true or not?

"although its ruling royal family is Sunni, like those elsewhere on the Arab side of the Gulf, the majority of its citizens, perhaps 60-70%, are Shia. If Bahrain had an unfettered democracy, the mainly Shia Wefaq party, which already has 16 seats (plus a supportive independent) in the 40-seat lower house of parliament, would probably rule the roost. Last time round it reckons to have won over 60% of the votes cast but was denied a majority in part because constituencies are gerrymandered to boost Sunni representation."

I read the article and realized what a relief that truth is put into words. Although I am neither Bahraini or took sides in the events that occured earlier this year, i still fail to understand why Bahrain is governed by Sunnis. Forming a Democracy should be encouraged. The ruling tyrants asked the Saudis (who are probably the biggest supporters of Terrorism around the world - 19 of which were involved in the 9/11 bombings) to restore order.

Sadly, Sport is the next frontier in Middle East politics. I hope the Bahraini people's determination of democracy continues. We in the West encourage The Economist to continue coverage of democratic movements as our American Media is more concerned whether Michelle Bachmann or Sarah Palin has nicer hair?

Is this what the Economist has turned in to? Tabloid Journalism?? This article is an insult to all Bahrainis. The racism, and clear political bias and wording is nothing short of disgusting. "Sunni gangs"?? "peaceful demonstrators"?? The way in which this article twists words and stories to make a story seem a different reality is horrifying.

Please,next time, have a journalist without political bias and a better understanding and knowledge of the situation in Bahrain before publishing such articles.